A blog dedicated to coverage of rock news, reviews of CD's/DVD's, live gigs and interviews with musicians who have made rock music great!
Coverage of hard rock, classic rock, AOR and popular melodic rock music across the genre.
This blog is the creation of Alun Williams, a Brit now living in Michigan whose previous credits include writing for the following sites:
www.classicrock.about.com
www.classicrockrevisited.com
and www.rocknrolluniverse.com (Now gone)
I hope you enjoy your visit here!

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Monday, February 21, 2011

Rock News Update for Monday 21st February, 2011

Joe Elliott joins Thin Lizzy ... At least for one show ...

Yes the current line up of Thin Lizzy have just wrapped up their UK and European live dates, playing their last show in Dublin, which of course was the town of the bands emergence and the hometown of the main man behind the band Phillip Lynott, of course sadly no longer with us.

So the Dublin show was of course lining up to be a 'big bang' at the end of what's been a pretty successful tour.

At the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Phil Lynott's Mum, Philomena was present as special guest of the band in the venue's Royal Box.

Joe Elliott (Def Leppard) was present at the show and it seems from his own words, over at the Def Leppard site, that he expected to be asked to join the band onstage at the show.

Joe Elliott: "I suppose you could say it was inevitable that I'd be asked to join the boys when they came through Dublin, what with all the close ties we have, with my involvement in the recent re-mixes and Vivian (Campbell) and Ricky (Warwick) in the line up. It was also the last night of their European tour, so it was totally a party atmosphere - you know, sold out show, hometown gig, [Phil Lynott's mother] Philomena in the Royal Box!"

"I was watching from a great vantage point and I have to say they were absolutely magnificent! Vivian fits like a glove, perfectly replicating the styles of Eric Bell, Brian Robertson and Gary Moore, but doing it HIS way! Having worked with him now for 19 years I just knew he'd pull it off and there's nobody more happy than me to see him do it, as they're his favourite band. Having done the Down 'N' Outz, I know exactly how he feels!"

"Ricky was amazing too, he has all the heart you need to sing Phil Lynott songs and does it in his own style, which fits in perfectly too. I joined them fittingly for "THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN" and I gotta say, it definitely gets you in the mood to play when you get a reaction like they did that night! My favourite gig for a long, long time!!"

Here's some fan shot video ofJoe Elliott joining the band - Editor's Note: Link to view it on You Tube directly, under the video, as Blogspot tend to cut the screen size down.

Jeff Beck paid fitting Tribute to Les Paul last summer, celebrating what would have been the pioneering guitarist’s 95th birthday by playing his friend and mentor’s music, along with classic tunes from the era, in the same Times Square nightclub that Les Paul played every Monday for 14 years before his death in August 2009.

Sponsored by Gibson Guitar and billed as “A Celebration of Les Paul,” Beck was joined by The Imelda May Band at the Iridium Jazz Club in June 2010. Other guest performers, joining Beck onstage, included Brian Setzer, Gary “U.S.” Bonds, and Trombone Shorty.

The 4th album from The Jeff Healey Band"Get Me Some" was originally released in 2000 everywhere but the U.S. 11 years later, on March 29, it is getting a proper U.S. release finally!

Get Me Some continues to thrive in this versatile style, packed with 13 tracks of electrified boogie and blues-rock. The dynamic quality of these musicians is evident on tracks like “Which One,” “My Life Story,” and “Rachel’s Song.” Topped with supreme fret work, stylistic solos, and memorable hooks, Get Me Some proves it was definitely worth the 11-year wait for American fans.

This is the first of several projects that Eagle Rock will be releasing related to The Jeff Healey Band in the near distant future. We will keep you updated as we announce more of these great projects.

From the team that brought you “We Wish You A Metal Xmas” comes “SIN-atra”, heavy metal’s tribute to the genius of Frank Sinatra. Twelve songs made famous by Ol’ Blue Eyes are given a radical and individual new treatment from some of the finest voices in rock!

Multi-Platinum Band RATT, Drummer Releases Follow Up to 2010's Wide Received Autobiography, Tales of a RATT, Things You Shouldn't Know.

With New Interactive Book Series

This new informational book "series" will give the publishing industry a kick in the ass by inviting the world to participate in the first, as far as we know, "User Interactive" book. "Things you need to know."

Castaic, CA, February 20, 2011 --(http://www.pr.com/)-- RATT drummer Bobby Blotzer and "Blotzer Brothers Publishing" are embarking on a new book franchise entitled, "WANTED Things YOU Need to know!"

This new informational book "series" will give the publishing industry a kick in the ass by inviting the world to participate in the first, as far as we know, "User Interactive" book.

This first volume will have you the fan's, asking the questions, about things, You Need To Know.

Any subject on anything and everything Rock, RATT, Music and music business related. Touring, recording, studios, backstage, hotels, record deals, record producing, publishing deals, etc. Anything goes, nothing is off limits.

The idea for the series in thinking, wouldn't it be nice to approach the author of any given book that always has one or two unanswered questions? "I want to gather not only the questions, but also have the person posing the question be in the book itself. Including your name, where you're from, and a picture of you next to your questions. How fun right?"

The "WANTED" series will start with 80s Rock with Bobby Blotzer doing the Q&A. Shortly thereafter the series will expand into different industries regarding all subjects and people like you, asking the questions that we all Need to know. This first book will be arriving in Spring 2011.

Also coming soon, Bobby Blotzer's new wine franchise, RATT N ROLL / Out Of The Cellar™ Featuring a fine selection of your favorite red and white wines. Much more to be announced soon.

Bobby Blotzer is the celebrated drummer of 80's staple multi platinum band RATT.

Yes, over at the Whitesnake site, David Coverdale, Doug Aldrich, Briian Tichy, Michael Devin and Reb Beach have been answerring questions posed to them on the new, forthcoming Whitesnake album 'Forevermore.'

Here's a little sample of the questioning:

Q ... Best wishes on the forthcoming release of Whitesnake's Eleventh Studio Album, 'FOREVERMORE' What was the inspiration behind the title?

David Coverdale: Thank you... yes... the eleventh... Amazing journey... 'Forevermore' is about Eternity... A love that lasts forever and destined to be relived and rekindled many life times over...

Doug Aldrich: I think the title of a record sets the tone for what the theme is. It's usually challenging to find the right one. Forevermore fits really well and encompasses a lot of what the record means to us. I was very happy when David said that was it.

Q... So, what can we expect from FOREVERMORE?? Talk us through the album, a little, please....

David Coverdale : It has most, if not all the musical elements Whitesnake has come to represent... rock, soul... blues... ballads... a twinkle in the eye and a nudge in the ribs... a punch on the nose... and humour, of course... mustn't forget having fun...

It's quite the buffet... a little taste of before, during and now... Coupled with some new, inspiring new blood... Mr Tichy and Mr Devin... a pair of snake charmers for sure... Very nice and very, very talented... They have most certainly added welcome layers...

It's interesting that, as in nature, the Snake has to shed its skin every so often to start a new chapter of its life and shine perhaps a little brighter than before...

Briian Tichy: I am proud to be a part of the history of Whitesnake, especially by drumming on a new record! But it's even cooler than that because the record smokes! And grooves! And rocks! And rolls! It's got everything one would want from a Whitesnake record and to be allowed the freedom to set up and tune my drums how I want as well as add some rhythmic spice to what was already rocking in its demo stage, is truly something I will always enjoy looking back on! With that said, it's all about getting your own copy to crank at your own will!

Reb Beach: I think one factor in the different sound of this record is that everyone sings! Tichy and Michael have super strong voices, and this is my first time doing backgrounds on a Whitesnake record. There are certain songs where I can really hear my voice, like in the title track. How cool is it to hear your voice with David Coverdale!

Doug Aldrich: It's lots of flavors. It's a very complete set of songs. There is something for all the generations of Whitesnake fans. And as GTBB was, it's really deep lyrically.

David sings like a man on a mission. He is still hungry to push the envelope. How cool is that?

Reb played and sang amazing. Devin is the complete package, he has it all, and Tichy, he just rules on the record. I'm very happy with it.

Michael Devin: Forevermore is a jam-packed rock album, we've got the barn-burners, the boot-stompers, ass-kickers, fist-raisers, and the tear-jerkers that generations of Whitesnake fans have come to love and appreciate. This one calls for a 21-gun salute, far as I'm concerned. DC sings and swings like a prize-fighter on Forevermore... and the title says it all.